Afghan researcher Amin Mohseni has found sanctuary at Linköping University in Sweden after fleeing Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover in 2021. According to reports from SVT Östergötland, Mohseni escaped his homeland after the dramatic Taliban takeover when US forces withdrew from the country.
Mohseni, a legal scholar now studying society, ethnicity and migration at Linköping University, describes how academic freedom has been severely restricted in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. He reports that women are completely banned from studying, and topics such as women's rights, peace and motherhood are forbidden areas of study. Merely uttering words like 'democracy' or 'academic freedom' in a classroom can lead to punishment by the Taliban.
He reports that women are completely banned from studying, and topics such as women's rights, peace and motherhood are forbidden areas of study. Merely uttering words like 'democracy' or 'academic freedom' in a classroom can lead to punishment by the Taliban.
Linköping University currently hosts three researchers through the international Scholars at Risk (SAR) network, which works to strengthen academic freedom worldwide. University rector Jan-Ingvar Jönsson stated that while researchers can continue their work in Sweden, guaranteeing full freedom is difficult due to concerns about family members remaining in their home countries.
Mohseni expressed gratitude for his sanctuary but acknowledged feeling partially constrained, worrying that his research in Sweden could affect friends and relatives still in Afghanistan. He hopes Linköping University will accept more researchers from his homeland, particularly women.
University rector Jan-Ingvar Jönsson stated that while researchers can continue their work in Sweden, guaranteeing full freedom is difficult due to concerns about family members remaining in their home countries.
The Scholars at Risk network includes 650 universities and organizations worldwide and has operated in Sweden for 10 years, with numerous Swedish institutions participating in providing sanctuary to threatened academics.
Mohseni expressed gratitude for his sanctuary but acknowledged feeling partially constrained, worrying that his research in Sweden could affect friends and relatives still in Afghanistan.
He hopes Linköping University will accept more researchers from his homeland, particularly women.